PREGAME NOTES: Belt returns; Bochy is ready for the goosebumps

The Giants were at it early today, leaving plenty of post-BP time for the ceremony. Said Bochy:

“It’s an honor. It’s a special day. These guys, hopefully they take it in and enjoy it. This is what you play for. To have a day like this signifies the hard work these guys had to go through. It’s going to be a special day and we’ve been looking forward to it. They’re going to get goosebumps, they are. It’s so special when you see that flag go up and realize you’re the world champions.”

— Brandon Belt is feeling much better today, and yes, he did stop by the old Olive Garden last night. Nothing brings the young first baseman back to life quite like an order of the Tour of Italy.

— Bochy on Zito, who has said he’ll try to treat this like any other day: “It’s special for Barry, he played such a significant role. For a pitcher, that’s a special honor.”

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Bochy said he does think Zito might be a little over-amped today, and he’ll need to control that.

“That’s going to be natural,” he said.
— The Cardinals won’t have to stand around for a Train concert or anything like that. The Giants have taken measures to make sure this ceremony is different, and the Cardinals won’t be forced to watch as much as they had to in 2011.

“That’s not something we want them to go through,” Bochy said.

— If you were wondering, nobody around here is still thinking about Matt Holliday’s demolition of Marco Scutaro. It all worked out in the end for the Giants, anyway.

“Until you mentioned it,” Bochy told a reporter who asked, “That never even crossed my mind.”

Because it’s a home game, someone decided to ask about Sandoval’s weight. Bochy’s answer: “We’re not concerned, but it is something we have to keep an eye on. At his age, he can probably handle (carrying extra weight) a little better, but long-term, he’ll have to keep it under control. He’s probably heavier than he should be at this point, but he’s getting close to where he needs to be.”

— One of the most amazing stats from last season is still relevant: The Giants have won Barry Zito’s last 14 starts, including the postseason. Zito is 9-0 with a 3.46 ERA during the streak.

Alex Pavlovic

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“He’s getting close to where he needs to be” Where’s that, Bruce? 275?? Panda started out looking like a fullback. Lately, he’s looked more like an offensive lineman. Even Prince Fielder looks svelte by comparison..

fergie348

Panda has had plenty of hand and arm injuries the last couple of years. If he stays at this weight, we can expect knee and other lower extremity problems down the line.

Foothills Ryan

Thanks Alex. Everybody in the bullpen healthy and ready to go??

Westbrook can be had. Good battle of #5 pitchers. Got get ’em. Get a bunch. As always with Zito: Run Support.

Barkalounger

Someone can expect them, fergie348, but I don;t think it’ll be us. I love Panda but don;t see him staying in SF.

Glad someone reminded Bochy, now we can look forward to a weak Zito retaliation like the one thrown at Fielder.

SurfCity

Alex – thanks much. I mentioned yesterday and would like to repeat, that was a very nice article about Zito. I enjoyed it.

Maybe Vogelsong will have a hand in raising the flag?

Woj

All of us Giants fans are World Champions today. Enjoy it as the players and organization should as well. Your fan-dom and passion has been rewarded. Buy a Gold program hat or jersey. I bought both funded by Vegas paying me off $300 for a won bet on the 2012 World Champions.
Congrats everyone.

Go win the game Zito and the offense. Cards are tough.

Woj

Nominations for flag raising – joint effort by Vogey! Romo! Scoots! and Posey (the Grand Salami against Reds in clicher was huge!)

The Wisdom Cow

For flag raising,

A trip wire should be set up with weights, then Dusty can walk into the outfield, trip and fall on his face, activating the trip wire, releasing the weight and raising the flag.

SurfCity

lol WC – good to see you back to your slightly irascible self, lol.

I was actually wondering who takes down the old flag, or do they just do that before the ceremony.

pacman68

I hope Beltran likes watching the ring ceremony. 🙂

channelclemente

pac,

I read they moved him to #2 in the order, so he could get a better view.

Sam

Foothills,

That was me that responded to your inquiry about Casilla’s absence, on Wednesday due to JA being sick. If you continue to give others credit for my reporting, I will not share my info with you. 🙂

David D.

Jonathan Sanchez vs. Greinke tonight. Go Pirates!

channelclemente

Man, is that a beautiful place to play The Game. Maybe the most beautiful it has ever been played in.

Foothills Ryan

Lefty was first Sam. But thank you

TWC,

Great minds think similarly. I had a pulley system devised in my mind. Sandoval’s descending weight from the atop the scoreboard would operate an elaborate network of ropes and pulleys. One of which raises the flag, others elevate operations crew who replace light bulbs in stadium arrays.

Can you think of anything else that needs a lift or raising?

The Wisdom Cow

What will be the first over-advertised poorly produced 2012 Giants Commemorative item?

The Wisdom Cow

The Pixar fire-tugboat from Cars2 gets to raise the flag? What doesn’t Disney own now?

channelclemente

Cow to troll, who would have guessed.

The Wisdom Cow

Nice to see they are not drawing it out for StL to have to sit through, lol.

Foothills Ryan

Let’s play ball!

Carlos Beltran = prototypical #2 hitter

The Wisdom Cow

Ah, between CC and my initial post attempts failing because the “Website” field had my blog address in it (why have the field, then?), . . .

OMT

Cards face Zito, Voge, and Cain this weekend in that order. Coincidence? I think not.

Mike Souza

Larry Baer was great on PERFECT STRANGERS. I wonder how his cousin Balky is doing.
With that said, goosebumps indeed watching the flag being raised. GO GIANTS!!!!!!

ClutchUp

PLAY BALL

SurfCity

Who threw the ceremonial first pitch? –missed it

OMT

Scoots and Panda threw the first pitch. 2 PS MVP’s

Mike Souza

Have the GIANTS ever honored a fan or involved a fan in any on field ceremony who wasn’t filthy rich or really well off? What about us blue collar guys huh? 😉

Why should fans be honored or involved in on field ceremonies? While fan support helps, the players win or lose.

channelclemente

Does Foothills know the podiatrist?

soothsayer

Giants fans need to start using the “D”fence chant when appropriate.

SurfCity

Thanks OMT

dgg

Wow, Alex. I’m at work and only had a few minutes to check in. I had just finished reading all your tweets when the next tweet popped up about your web article on the SF Giants ceremony. I wondered who the six were. Now I know. I’ve got tears in my eyes. Thanks for posting this right away for those of us at work. Speaking of which: Back to work now.

Go, Zito!

channelclemente

Damn, Zito’s cutFB is giving them fits today.

The Oracle

Maybe everyone has it wrong and Sandoval is right. Maybe he’s fine and everyone else needs to fatten up.

Gotta lay off this blog – you guyz are 2 hitters ahead of me again – buzz killer.

Die Hard Giants Fan

Kawakami is a “conyo”. Already advocating to split Zito and Lincecum in the rotation. The righty lefty combo is working. The past does not equal the future. Zito is proving that 2011 and before is the past. The guy is doing what he did last year. Winning. I believe Zito will win at least 15 games this year and eat up about 180 innings.

Lincecum? The jury is still out. One game does not make a season, good or bad. Kawakami should stop being a negative nancy.

what I was getting at, was the quotient meaningful. Was the N on total ABs high on everyone. Yeah, I was being lazy…should have looked it up myself. But the games in one room, and I’m in another.

Die Hard Giants Fan

Yup, the starters have not given up an earned run this year. Simply amazing. Same with the defense. Reality is that bad fielding cost the Dodgers two games and cost SL too. Good D and good pitching will win out again, just like last year.

Michael

CC: The numbers are totally meaningful. It’s not like someone has 50 AB. The sample size is more than adequate for everyone, IMO.

channelclemente

Michael,

thanks, it still a surprising list. Thanks.

Foothills Ryan

If I was the reactionary type,

I might suggest sitting Scutaro and Belt down and having Arias play first and second and hit in both spots.

channelclemente

Looks like Romo may get a break today.

Foothills Ryan

It’s all up to the Bullie !

Die Hard Giants Fan

Sawing off the bats. Perhaps the two best offenses on paper in the NL go down with a whimper. Awesome pitching. It’s going to be fun when the Giants and Nats go head to head.

Michael

Foot: Scooter has looked awful so far, but Belt did have a couple good ABs today. Arias is pretty terrible at 2nd base. Maybe Marco could take a day for Noonan. Oops, or maybe not..

OMT

This team is good folks.

Die Hard Giants Fan

Pitching and defense. Bring it on MLB. Repeat.

channelclemente

An unlikely headline..

Zito beats the Cardinals in a 3 hit shutout.

channelclemente

OMT,

…quite confidence in how they play ball.

stickman

Does this pitching staff think they’re still in the Post-season, or what? Zito, Affeldt, Romo ~ what a combo. Giants starters now have turned in 26 shutout innings to start the season, while in their ten innings the bullpen has barely been scratched. Romo takes a quick MLB lead in saves.

All good.

Foothills Ryan

Wow! That was easy.

Pitchers are simply ahead of hitters right now.

Not only are the Giants not hitting, but neither are the opponents. Giants pitching pretty darn good though.

Michael

Zito continues his April excellence. In 2010 and last year he pitched the best he ever has here.

Matthew

Really satisfying performance… I think OMT said it best… “This team is good, folks”

Yes, they are.

Matthew

Footy…except for Petit.

South City Jim

Zito’s got the cutter dialed in. When he’s got that and the curve working, he’s tough. Offense needs some work but Westbrook was throwing well. Glad we didn’t have to face him last October.

South City Jim

If Zito isn’t the best sacrifice bunter in baseball, then I don’t know who is.

channelclemente

The Dodgers, are officially a mess. Rock, paper, scissors for who starts.

I’ll be watching the Bum game- Jonathan Sanchez goes against Greinke. I love Jonathan and I’m really hoping he can make it back.

Mike Souza

This team plays with heart and caring for one another the Dodgers lack.
Nice win!

channelclemente

Whatever happened in PA, Sanchez turned some heads. From what I’ve read in the Pittsburgh papers, he’s been impressive. If he’s found a way to deal with Kemp, who has owned him historically, Sanchez is going to break some LA hearts tonight.

1. Pagan taking awful hacks, pulling off the ball like crazy.
2. Scoots owes us a run – hasn’t affected his fielding though. Great pivot on the Beltran dp. The traitor can’t run.
3. Pitchers are scared of Panda.
4. Panda can field too. Belt can catch. So can those outfielders!!!
5. Pence had a great day in the field.
6. Zeets is transformed – he could win 15 again.
7. Affelt was nasty. Romo looked like Dr. Death under his SF cachucha.
8. Don’t want to get too excited, but what a great start.

Ty

Great start from Zito. Awful game from our offense though.

The timing for Belt to catch food poisoning came at a worse time. His swing was locked in after the Cactus league. Now his swing looks all out of whack because of his illness. Belt is the last guy that needs a slow start.

Michael

CC: Before the no-hitter in 2009 there were questions whether he’d even start again. He was 2-8, he’d been replaced in the rotation by Sadowski.He got another chance when Randy Jonson got hurt. That start was to mark a crossroads in his career either way. His dad flew up, he’d never seen Jonathan start in the big leagues. I maintained at the time that his father was there for his son- for support at that troubled time for Jonathan. I’ve never seen another rational reason that would explain his father’s decision to be there at that time. Their embrace after the game was as touching a father-son show of love as I’ve seen.

soothsayer

1>0

Foothills Ryan

Michael,

Great call. I remember that emotional moment with his padre. I hope Sanchee blanks the Bums !

And Ty,

I think you’re right. Giants and this blog don’t need Belt getting off to a slow start.

Scutaro and this blog can handle a slow start from him. He’s a vet afterall.

ClutchUp

Westbrook was filthy

Zeetz, Affeldt, Romo = better

Perfect weather

Typical opening day crowd

After pitch one 10K paying attention to the game. LoL

South City Jim

I wish Edlefsen’s sinker looked like Westbrook’s.

Wild Bill

Remember when a Lincecum start was always a potential win and a Zito start you just cringed watching it.

Now it’s the complete opposite. The team is 22-11 in Zito’s last 33 starts and you now cringe watching Licecum.

Did anyone else notice that the Dodgers pitcher Ryu looks exactly like that kid from the movie UP?

dgg

Alex reports:

Romo said teammates handed him banner rope at the end, as the closer. “To pull it up the last few feet or so, that was pretty sweet.”

JStreet

Good game. Good team. Good fans.

Great seats, eh Buddy?

stickman

Make hay while the sun shines. CC: Thanx for that LAT link on the starter glut for the LaBumbos. From reading that and from prior observation of how these things go, there have to be a slew of unhappy campers at the Latrine. Their shakedown cruise for jelling that collexion of egos mated up with AAAA types may well run through these first two months of the season.

Opportunity knocks. Giants pitchers and defense have been totally on their game and fully dominant. You win the first game in any 3 game set and you only have to play .500 ball for the rest of the series to take it. This team was not known to be greedy last season , but did win a lot of series right through the season, except for their tortoise start. The offense has some catching up to do, but that will happen. Perhaps the brightest light there, so far, is the hitting of CrawDaddy. That kid is maturing at the plate in a way to virtually match his glove.

Cardinals probably are not looking forward to facing Vogelsong and Cain with any particular relish. Vogie has the determination of a pitbull terrier. He won’t wanna be the weak link in the chain starting out. It might take a few innings for SF hitters to solve the Redbirds’ young starter tomorrow. Shelby shut down the Reds pretty convincingly in his single start at season’s end last year . Should Giants hitters get to him tomorrow Brunhilda may attend Sunday’s matinee.

At this stage last season Giants record was the reverse of what it is today. After a sweep by the Snakes, one of Zicasso’s greatest performances ever ~ IN the Box of Rox ~ upped the record to 1-3.
Again, a fast start by SF while the LaBumbos are in the doldrums as a team could quickly establish the Giants as best in the West.

JStreet

Hey. I was unable to watch the beginning of today’s game. Was lucky enough to see everything 4th inning on. I wasn’t that concerned with who or how they raised the Champs flag, just overjoyed they got to do it again. But there was so much speculation here on the blog, now my curiosity is piqued. Can someone give me a brief description?

Fuddy

Footy,

I am not able to reconcile your 3:10 post vs your 5:11.
At 3:10, its seems you are saying it is almost time to replace Scutaro with Arias
… Scutaro is no spring chick
… He didn’t hit all that well last year (even in CO), until he came to SF
At 5;11, Scutaro is a vet and this blog can handle a slow start.
Which is it?

btw – Scutaro 2012 COL — 268 PA .271 .324 .361 .684 WAR -0.1
Arias 2012 SF — 344 PA .270 .304 .389 .693 WAR 1.1
And then there was Scutaro in SF going for his first WS earning a big paycheck.
I’d rather evaluate a player after 100 PA then to suggest removing a starter after 3+ games

Stickman,
a quick start is nice, but wasn’t LAD up 10 games early last year?
also, agree with you on Craw, although it is still too early to judge

of course, another post after 2 whole games vs LH, wanted Craw replaced
===
Steve says:April 3rd, 2013 at 3:41 pm
i’ve always thought Bochy needed to get Arias as many at bats as he can. Crawford struggling early already, think Arias should fill that void
===

Fuddy, thanks for the link. I requested brief just for the convenience of the poster. Now I do get to watch. As usual, your comments make a lot of sense, btw. Almost too reasoned for a blog.. Well fortunately not this one. Hah.

walt kovacs

zito…wow

walt kovacs

LETS GOOOO DRRRRTY

channelclemente

Stickman,

you’r welcome…vive la stick!

channelclemente

Michael,

I have to agree with you about a secret soft spot in my heart for Sanchez. He has SO much potential, and when he’s on, my god what a talent. That ball does things that physics says are not possible. I really hope he cleans the Dodgers clocks tonight. The smug bastardos got it coming.

channelclemente

BTW, stick, it’s a testament to what a really average manager Donny Two Trips is that something like this even becomes public.

stickman

CC: Yes, the LaBumbos dirty linen is out there for all to see ~ and smell. Their organization is still at sixes and sevens. Mattingly may have hotseat company a bit further up the totem pole.

Fuddy: I fully realize the Bums had a big lead early on. However they were running on fumes of several players performing over their usual peaks. So far the Giants have not fallen off a step from their championship run, except, perhaps, for the bats. That will come.

ClutchUp

Jstreet@535, I’m sure others from the TV or from “Twitta” which I don’t do will chime in but with field glasses Bochy carried trophy from CF entrance to platform and then followed by all others.

The Six” in short CF, it was folded and Handed to Boch who walked towards the “flag steps” with it folded…stopped and handed it to Cainer who walked it up stairs and handed it to Vogey.

Bochy stayed/stood down below looking up at the six.

The others were Timmy, Pence, angel and Romo.

Some blue collar kid wearing 28 was then playing long toss in LF with some guy wearing 75.

Btw, Zito’s pregame long toss routine is something to behold.

Trevor Bauer should take a peak.

Foothills Ryan

Hi Fuddy,

I was practicing overreacting and exaggerating. Get it out of the system early.

Scutaro can withstand an early season slump with the best of them. It doesn’t seem like he has any timing in his swing right now. Nothing comes off the bat hard. But it’s only 4 games and the Giants are 3-1 and he draws walks even when the bat isn’t going well. This cannot be said for Joaquin Arias; whom I really like for his versatility and good bat speed.

I like how Blanco is going right now. Great start for him. He has a good stroke going with the bat. Takes walks. And is working on bunting for a basehit. That’s exciting. So exciting that I offer a new lineup for Bochy to consider in time:

Pagan
Blanco
Sandoval
Posey
Pence
Belt
Scutaro
Crawford
Pitcher

Essentially, whoever is getting on base should be batting 1&2. If Crawford is hot, bat him second. Put Belt there. The Cardinals have Beltran batting second. This is not that dumb.

Anywho…

Nice post as always Stickman (wordsmitherish)

& J. Street,

Cool posts as always. Come to a Grizzlies game. Bring your guitar.
I promise I’m not as crazy as my cartoon avatar. I can be mellow and focused too. And I’m not like Tommy Lasorda’s son, nephew or whatever that was about last night.

8)

Clutch, if you had a game, I hope one of your guys hit the scoreboard. I’m still in awe of the bomb I saw hit off the Grizzlies scoreboard last night.

ClutchUp

I was at Durtys NoNo in 2009. Everything was smooth and filthy with his dad in the stands. Guess he became Durty Ankiel-Sax.

Someday said Johnny and Timmy can’t hit. Really? Sanchie line drived a 3bagger in game 162 in 2010 and 55 had a nice situational moment with two strikes vs. LA?

Today Westbrook was as good as ever. Scoots, Noonan and Crawls K’d on nasti-pitches.

Scoots snapped his head around on his foul tip into the glove.

Plate ump made both guyz have to be TOO fine and Westy lossed it on the bases loaded walk.

Arias and Noonan are not replacing anybody after 15 at bats. Belt looked like he had lost 10-12 lbs and was swinging @ 0 and 0.

The WBC threw some guys off, they were ready earlier than others who didn’t play, then got eliminated and came back to ST and started all over again.

Some SF position players look to be in extended spring training (Angel & Scoots) posey, Pence and Panda look fine. Belts virus has put him behind.

Pitchers WAY AHEAD of hitters now and for the first 15-35 games.

Nice to see Wotus wearing #17 8)

Foothills Ryan

Not only do chicks dig the long ball, so do I !!!

Another guy hit a HR off Petit last night, but it was more of a Brett Pill homerun. I usually sit on the third base side and get that angle on the long ball to left field. You know it’s a homerun and you know it will go out by about 5-10 feet. But when a guy crushes a no-doubter, you know that there is some special timing and some special physics going on.

POW !!!

Foothills Ryan

Awesome Clutch. Belt couldn’t afford those 15 pounds like a certain someone across the diamond. How does Sandoval look without the camera adding 15 lbs.?

Foothills Ryan

Westbrook thowing 91-92 sink is nasty. That’s cool that he still has that in him. He’s no spring chick either.

Foothills Ryan

Dan Haren’s line:

4 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 5 Ks, 0 BBs, 4 HR!

Those dingers will kill his FIP !!

Right about now, you’d rather have Barry Zito than Dan Haren. Easily.

South City Jim

I guess if your a Houston Astros fan, you just wait for the Bud Norris starts.

channelclemente

South,

you can say that again. However, the Astros have 3-4 fireballing, 98 MPH + prospects in the minors. It will get better, in a while.

Foothills Ryan

Richmond and Augusta won their openers. There’s fun box scores in there. Fresno and San Jose underway.

JStreet

Thanks all for the input. I just did watch the link provided. Ceremony was over the top, but it was cool to see how they involved the fans and the crowd. The players do seem enthused to be connected to the people. Seeing the flag actually flying made it real for me. As BB9 often notes, “it’s what you play for.” And these guys are still hungry..

Foothills, yeah I’m going to make a Griz game this year. I still have 3 Brandon Belt Grizzly refrigerator magnets that I got last year. I guess they thought he’d be a big part of the team. I saw your comment earlier re: go ahead and pick on Scutaro if he starts slow, he’s a vet and can handle it; but go easy on BB15 if he starts slow, tender psyche. Pshaw on that, I say – after last year, he’s already been through the pressure cooker. I laugh when I read here (not from you FH) about how management ‘ruined’ this player. Well, today he attended his second WS pennant raising, this time as a fully fledged participant. How ruined is that. Uh, back to the game. When we go, I’ll see if Good Medicine (the band) is playing in the area. One year we adjourned to a local club and played a few tunes. And I’m not that worried about your weirdness levels. One, we’re all weird to a degree. Two, after getting to know folks on this forum, there are certain ‘tells.’ your tells include baseball, blues and a certain passion for words and numbers. So, WTH.

South City Jim

I don’t know if Sanchez was hurt last year or his mechanics were totally screwed up but he was throwing hard in the first inning (92-93). Interesting to see if he can maintain it. Kemp’s a mess. Swings 3-0 and hits a lazy pop up to right.

SurfCity

Nice win.

JStreet, my day was just the opposite. I saw them get it to 1-0 then I had to leave because I was doing volunteer tax filing work today.

Was thinking as I left that 1-0 might stand up as the score and was happy to hear that it did.

SJ/SFFan

Jack Snodgrass had 6 inning no-no in Richmond tonight.(7 inning game since it was 2nd game of a doublheader) Enjoyed watching him pitch in SJ last year- so glad his AA debut was so strong. Now listening to SJ Giants. Got to watch/listen to 3 Giants games today! Life is good!

soothsayer

Houston Astros> Washington Generals

channelclemente

I would say we have, maybe, one of the best defensive outfields in baseball.

SurfCity

CC – thanks for the la times link. Dodgers have 8 starters, 3 of which are unhappy.

SurfCity

new thread

ClutchUp

Footy: Pablo looks like Matt Williams use to during rain delays with a Big pillow stuffed in his jersey. With Panda impersonating the Babe, from my 336 seats he looked like three pillows.

Very “barrel” chested. Waist down not bad. FULL smiling face. He mad three very quick plays to his left:
Beltran DP
Westbrook smash
One other

Magnificent reflexes.

I thought I detected small moments where Pablo and Angel had tiny muscle moment tweaks. Angel was constantly stretching in the OF.

Baggarly was field strutting before game. Sports jacket over sweater. Pavs was in pressbox. Radnich made psuedo show appearance. PrimetimeD working her field level area.